Four months deserves at least a post, in case anyone is actually reading or looking to read this blog.
First, I have no internet access at home, and have been intentionally offline for the last few months, merely lurking on facebook and checking email from work. I kinda like it, although it means less connection with the real world.
Second, I have returned to the 9-5 world. I am officially the office manager for an optometric practice in my hometown, although that really means I'm the only full time employee, and just a glorified receptionist. However, I am taking a course which will, in about a year, certify me as an optometric assistant, meaning I will do the same thing I already do, get paid the same, but have letters after my name, and belong to an association.
Third, I am still chewing over my Master's program - when, where and what to take. Definitely I will take an MBA, but I may take another MA first, because it's faster, cheaper and more fun. Still not sure.
Finally, I have my own little apartment in downtown Guelph, which is great, but eats away my salary pretty quickly. Hopefully it will be ready for an open house soon.
This week's news... I may start a part time position working weekend security for a local club, and I hosted my first dinner party at my new place for my family. Thanks Mom, for basically doing all the cooking because I work so late. Oh, and had a great evening last night in celebration of a friend's b-day. Prime rib dinner, a fine Beaujolais, and showing up at e-Bar dressed to impress. A well rounded night.
That's it!
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Monday, July 09, 2007
newsflash
First point, I will be back in Canada for the Civic Holiday weekend (DV) and staying for a year (at least) primarily in Guelph.
Second point, thousands (literally) of pictures are available for public viewing at http://picasaweb.google.com/csheach
That's it. Bye for now.
Second point, thousands (literally) of pictures are available for public viewing at http://picasaweb.google.com/csheach
That's it. Bye for now.
Friday, July 06, 2007
June in review
Wow, another month whips past. I am totally shell-shocked. I've stayed in Mozamboique to help the national office review their logistics policies and implement a training. So, I spent the month of June meeting everyone, everywhere, and learning about problems, difficulties, misunderstandings, etc. Then, more meetings to put together a training program, which culminated this week with a three day retreat and training.
It was a lot of fun, as the logistics staff from across the country got to know each other, laughed and joked together, as well as taught each other and motivated each other. The proof is, however, in the proverbial pudding, so the next month will be spent "tasting" the logistics pudding to see what recipe changes will need to be modified. As well, I am working to develop some future relief projects for the flood victims, who are still in need, even though the scope of our projects is completed. This means the next two weeks will be spent summarizing, reporting and typing excessively. Then, some travel, brainstorming and more reporting before taking off.
All this while trying to pursue a "normal" life, going out after work with my colleagues, taking time to catch a concert or cultural event if possible (there's a masked theater on this weekend), and most importantly finding time to spend with my girlfriend at the other end of a 12 hour bus ride.
In other news, I have posted a pile of pictures to Picasa, which will be my official web photo site, and I'll try to merge all other locations to there (except Friendster for all you Friendster friends). The website is http://picasaweb.google.com/csheach Enjoy the photos and I want to hear comments!!!
It was a lot of fun, as the logistics staff from across the country got to know each other, laughed and joked together, as well as taught each other and motivated each other. The proof is, however, in the proverbial pudding, so the next month will be spent "tasting" the logistics pudding to see what recipe changes will need to be modified. As well, I am working to develop some future relief projects for the flood victims, who are still in need, even though the scope of our projects is completed. This means the next two weeks will be spent summarizing, reporting and typing excessively. Then, some travel, brainstorming and more reporting before taking off.
All this while trying to pursue a "normal" life, going out after work with my colleagues, taking time to catch a concert or cultural event if possible (there's a masked theater on this weekend), and most importantly finding time to spend with my girlfriend at the other end of a 12 hour bus ride.
In other news, I have posted a pile of pictures to Picasa, which will be my official web photo site, and I'll try to merge all other locations to there (except Friendster for all you Friendster friends). The website is http://picasaweb.google.com/csheach Enjoy the photos and I want to hear comments!!!
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Back in Africa
My return to Mozambique did have one significant event. I returned to Maputo for a week, and had time to get to know better someone I had met before. My new girlfriend, Nilza, is a student in Maputo that I met rather randomly. However, we hit it off really well and enjoy spending time together. While I have been in Maputo, Nilza has been able to show me her city, including nsome nice parks, the best beaches, and the best food. One of these is a small shop right near our Maputo office, that does rotisserie chicken. For those of you that are fans of Swiss Chalet, a spicy quarter chicken with fries (no little bun, but a good salad) and a Coke can be had for $1.50!!! This place happens to be the best tasting and the cheapest.
My new job with FH Mozambique is as a Logistics Advisor, working with the national Logistics team to review existing Operating Procedures, and implement some new/revised ideas. However, this doesn't mean that I'm not available for other tasks, and the first assignment was to bring two new cars from Maputo to Beira. This journey is about 1200 km. I and two mechanics started out early on Wednesday at 5, hoping to beat morning traffic. The drive passes through some beautiful areas of Mozambique, and follows the coast for most of the way. However, due to traffic, delays over fuel and meals, we soon found we were set back, and needed to stay the night in Villanculos, on the way. Unfortunately, 20 minutes before we stopped for the night, the other car hit or was hit by an ox, and we spent half the night with the police, on the side of a dark highway. The next day we limped on with the car, arriving in Beira after a total driving time of more than 30 hours, and a total time of 40. I was not amused. I have soent the last week in the Beira office, staying in the house of the Country Director and laying groundwork for the evaluation.
Next week I will visit all the district offices, including my old stomping ground, Caia, to do a logistic review there. I should be back in Beira around the end of the month. I will not have internet access for the time in the field, but will look for comments when I return.
My new job with FH Mozambique is as a Logistics Advisor, working with the national Logistics team to review existing Operating Procedures, and implement some new/revised ideas. However, this doesn't mean that I'm not available for other tasks, and the first assignment was to bring two new cars from Maputo to Beira. This journey is about 1200 km. I and two mechanics started out early on Wednesday at 5, hoping to beat morning traffic. The drive passes through some beautiful areas of Mozambique, and follows the coast for most of the way. However, due to traffic, delays over fuel and meals, we soon found we were set back, and needed to stay the night in Villanculos, on the way. Unfortunately, 20 minutes before we stopped for the night, the other car hit or was hit by an ox, and we spent half the night with the police, on the side of a dark highway. The next day we limped on with the car, arriving in Beira after a total driving time of more than 30 hours, and a total time of 40. I was not amused. I have soent the last week in the Beira office, staying in the house of the Country Director and laying groundwork for the evaluation.
Next week I will visit all the district offices, including my old stomping ground, Caia, to do a logistic review there. I should be back in Beira around the end of the month. I will not have internet access for the time in the field, but will look for comments when I return.
Brazil Part 2
Well, not quite so rapid a succession of posts as I had hoped, but likely about what should be expected from me by now.
Rio de Janeiro- we spent less than 12 hours in the beautiful city, coming straight from Sao Pualo after the wedding. The highlight was when we took the cable car up to see the view from the Sugarloaf, and the clouds cleared enough to see the statue of Christ the Redeemer on the mountains opposite. Of course, Copacabana and Ipanema had stunning views as well, but it is winter in Rio, and it was rainy and chilly, so the beaches were pretty much empty. We wandered a bit, had a coffee, some authentic Brazilian countrystyle cooking, and took off just before dark by bus to Paraty. Special thanks to Claudia, our beautiful musician/tourguide for the day!
Paraty is an old port, where the Portuguese started the gold and diamond routes...it is a quaint old town, with nearby access to mountains, and incredible beaches. We spent a day on the beach (Well, an afternoon, all the rush from Sao Paulo to Rio and back to Paraty was a wee bit tiring), and it was perfect. Check the pictures on Facebook if you can, I don't know when they'll be posted elsewhere.
We also hiked one day on the Caminho do Ouro (Gold Trail), a Portuguese road from th 16oos that crosses over the mountains. I twas really cool to walk on the old granite stones, and see that people still use this path today. It rained while we were hiking, but that was certainly better than rain at the beach! Paraty was also a cool place to wander in the evenings, with European cuisine available everywhere, nice tourist shops to browse, cool cafes, etc. A great getaway!
We intended to try to catch a soccer match, and the Copa da Libertadores had a match playing on Wednesday in Santos. This is a championship for the best soccer team in South America, and it was a quarterfinal. However, our bus was late, and we missed a connection, so ended up in Campina, with more of Cleia's relatives, for more excellent food and great hospitality. The enxt morning we ended up racing to the airport to get me on a plane, because we tried to eat a traditional Brazilian churrasco lunch, and were short on time. So, I rushed into the airport, where the immigration officials were on strike, and stood in line for over three hours to try to leave the country. Departing Brazil, on a pathetic cramped Airbus340-200, I was really sorry to say goodbye to my first experience in Latin or South America.
Rio de Janeiro- we spent less than 12 hours in the beautiful city, coming straight from Sao Pualo after the wedding. The highlight was when we took the cable car up to see the view from the Sugarloaf, and the clouds cleared enough to see the statue of Christ the Redeemer on the mountains opposite. Of course, Copacabana and Ipanema had stunning views as well, but it is winter in Rio, and it was rainy and chilly, so the beaches were pretty much empty. We wandered a bit, had a coffee, some authentic Brazilian countrystyle cooking, and took off just before dark by bus to Paraty. Special thanks to Claudia, our beautiful musician/tourguide for the day!
Paraty is an old port, where the Portuguese started the gold and diamond routes...it is a quaint old town, with nearby access to mountains, and incredible beaches. We spent a day on the beach (Well, an afternoon, all the rush from Sao Paulo to Rio and back to Paraty was a wee bit tiring), and it was perfect. Check the pictures on Facebook if you can, I don't know when they'll be posted elsewhere.
We also hiked one day on the Caminho do Ouro (Gold Trail), a Portuguese road from th 16oos that crosses over the mountains. I twas really cool to walk on the old granite stones, and see that people still use this path today. It rained while we were hiking, but that was certainly better than rain at the beach! Paraty was also a cool place to wander in the evenings, with European cuisine available everywhere, nice tourist shops to browse, cool cafes, etc. A great getaway!
We intended to try to catch a soccer match, and the Copa da Libertadores had a match playing on Wednesday in Santos. This is a championship for the best soccer team in South America, and it was a quarterfinal. However, our bus was late, and we missed a connection, so ended up in Campina, with more of Cleia's relatives, for more excellent food and great hospitality. The enxt morning we ended up racing to the airport to get me on a plane, because we tried to eat a traditional Brazilian churrasco lunch, and were short on time. So, I rushed into the airport, where the immigration officials were on strike, and stood in line for over three hours to try to leave the country. Departing Brazil, on a pathetic cramped Airbus340-200, I was really sorry to say goodbye to my first experience in Latin or South America.
Friday, June 01, 2007
Brazil Part 1
A rapid succession of posts will follow, as I recall memories of the flurry that was the last two weeks. First...BRAZIL!!!!
After sitting in Pretoria, South Africa for a few days (read - spending heaps of cash because food and drinks were cheaper than American prices, and it was so nice to have fine foods in a pleasant atmosphere), I flew to Sao Paulo on Thursday, the 17th. Not a bad flight with South African Airlines, on a new Airbus340-800. Inflight movies included Apocolytpo (Mel is the new Kevin Costner "Quit while you're ahead Mel!"), a South African indie film, a chick flick, an action flick. 10 hours of brain damage...
I arrived in Sao Paulo, and Cleia, who works in a different city, didn't have the day off, so her brother picked me up. Her brother who's wedding I was invited to the next day, who didn't speak any English, just Portuguese. It was fine, we hit it off well, and he took me to his place, where I met his (also Cleia's) parents, and we chatted for hours in Portuguese-English-German (Mrs. dos Santos is a German immigrant's daughter).
Friday, Jordan arrived from the airport, and Cleia went to pick him up, and ask if he would stand up in the wedding with her, due to an unfortunate cancellation by another friend. Then, we were off to have Jordan's tuxedo fitted and finally left late for the drive to Cleia's house for the night. Cleia works at a university, and lives just off campus. We arrived at her house really late, ate spaghetti, talked until 1 AM, met her roommates, crashed.
Saturday morning, we got up for a nice pancake breakfast with the maple syrup Jordan had brought Cleia as a gift, and then scrambled to get ready for church. Cleia is a 7th Day Adventist, so her church services are held on Saturday, and she works at a religious university, so the church there is quite big, and was worth visiting.
After church, we rushed to pack, got a ride to the bus, and bussed to Campinhas, where Cleia's uncle and aunt live. An incredible formal dinner ensued (secret salad, casseroles, incredible chocolate moussey desert , wow. The meal (and the lack of sleep, jet lag, etc.) required a nap, after which we got ready for the wedding and drove to Sao Paulo.
The wedding started at 8 pm, but when we arrived at 8:15, Cleia's sister and brother-in-law (not the bride and groom) weren't there with my suit (no biggie), and Jordan's tux (important). There we were, dirts in T-shirts, creeping into the back door of a church and hoping for the best. After a hurried dressing (the bride was sitting in the limo out front the whole time), I sat with some nephews and nieces I had met, and the procession started.
Words can not describe the grandeur of this wedding. Chamber orchestra in the loft, a different piece for each entry, 12 pairs of attendants, a bridal train more than 5 meters long, candles, a tenor solo of the Lord's Prayer...
The reception started at 10ish, in a wedding hall covered in flowers, with a full disco dance floor (lasers, lights, music videos). Hors d'ouvres everywhere, waiters in tuxes, host bar, only one speech (yes! speeches are the stupidest part of any reception), photo slide show, dancing, a pasta dinner at 12:45 am, desserts at 2, party favours, sunglasses, boas, glow sticks, and a surprise visit from the King. Yes, Elvis was in the building. Oh, and I met Ronaldo, and Roberto Carlos was there....
OK, so it was Ronaldo, Cleia's cousin, and Roberto Carlos the singer, who was only there by music video projection, but it truly felt like we had all-access passes to some celebrity fete. Brazilians know how to party. We pulled out at 4, only because our ride was leaving, and we had to be on a flight to Rio at 9. What a night... pictures are on Facebook, and will be on google photos soon.
Next post - Rio
After sitting in Pretoria, South Africa for a few days (read - spending heaps of cash because food and drinks were cheaper than American prices, and it was so nice to have fine foods in a pleasant atmosphere), I flew to Sao Paulo on Thursday, the 17th. Not a bad flight with South African Airlines, on a new Airbus340-800. Inflight movies included Apocolytpo (Mel is the new Kevin Costner "Quit while you're ahead Mel!"), a South African indie film, a chick flick, an action flick. 10 hours of brain damage...
I arrived in Sao Paulo, and Cleia, who works in a different city, didn't have the day off, so her brother picked me up. Her brother who's wedding I was invited to the next day, who didn't speak any English, just Portuguese. It was fine, we hit it off well, and he took me to his place, where I met his (also Cleia's) parents, and we chatted for hours in Portuguese-English-German (Mrs. dos Santos is a German immigrant's daughter).
Friday, Jordan arrived from the airport, and Cleia went to pick him up, and ask if he would stand up in the wedding with her, due to an unfortunate cancellation by another friend. Then, we were off to have Jordan's tuxedo fitted and finally left late for the drive to Cleia's house for the night. Cleia works at a university, and lives just off campus. We arrived at her house really late, ate spaghetti, talked until 1 AM, met her roommates, crashed.
Saturday morning, we got up for a nice pancake breakfast with the maple syrup Jordan had brought Cleia as a gift, and then scrambled to get ready for church. Cleia is a 7th Day Adventist, so her church services are held on Saturday, and she works at a religious university, so the church there is quite big, and was worth visiting.
After church, we rushed to pack, got a ride to the bus, and bussed to Campinhas, where Cleia's uncle and aunt live. An incredible formal dinner ensued (secret salad, casseroles, incredible chocolate moussey desert , wow. The meal (and the lack of sleep, jet lag, etc.) required a nap, after which we got ready for the wedding and drove to Sao Paulo.
The wedding started at 8 pm, but when we arrived at 8:15, Cleia's sister and brother-in-law (not the bride and groom) weren't there with my suit (no biggie), and Jordan's tux (important). There we were, dirts in T-shirts, creeping into the back door of a church and hoping for the best. After a hurried dressing (the bride was sitting in the limo out front the whole time), I sat with some nephews and nieces I had met, and the procession started.
Words can not describe the grandeur of this wedding. Chamber orchestra in the loft, a different piece for each entry, 12 pairs of attendants, a bridal train more than 5 meters long, candles, a tenor solo of the Lord's Prayer...
The reception started at 10ish, in a wedding hall covered in flowers, with a full disco dance floor (lasers, lights, music videos). Hors d'ouvres everywhere, waiters in tuxes, host bar, only one speech (yes! speeches are the stupidest part of any reception), photo slide show, dancing, a pasta dinner at 12:45 am, desserts at 2, party favours, sunglasses, boas, glow sticks, and a surprise visit from the King. Yes, Elvis was in the building. Oh, and I met Ronaldo, and Roberto Carlos was there....
OK, so it was Ronaldo, Cleia's cousin, and Roberto Carlos the singer, who was only there by music video projection, but it truly felt like we had all-access passes to some celebrity fete. Brazilians know how to party. We pulled out at 4, only because our ride was leaving, and we had to be on a flight to Rio at 9. What a night... pictures are on Facebook, and will be on google photos soon.
Next post - Rio
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Brasil, eu estou vindo!
That's right, in case you hadn't heard, I'm visiting Brazil at the end of this week. I thought I should clear all questions with a specialized Brazil post...
My friend Jordan (some may know), was in Rwanda with Nu-Vision Ministries
and met a Brazilian, Cleia. Cleia invited Jordan to visit her, and Jordan thought I would like to go as well. Of course, I will go anywhere, and a guided tour of a South American country (I've never been to South America) is hard to pass up.It turns out, Cleia's brother is getting married next weekend, exactly when I finished my contract with FH Mozambique, and both Jordan and I are invited!
Unfortunately, after buying a ticket, and going to Maputo to visit the Brazilian Embassy, I was told that I couldn't get a visa in Maputo, only in Toronto. Devasted, I resigned myself to a holiday in Caia (not!) and went back to work. When I was sent to Maputo again, right at the end of my contract time, I decided to call the Brazilian embassy in South Africa, whose staff told me they would get me a visa in 48 hours! So, now I'm in South Africa, just to get a visa to Brazil. I arrived on their last day before moving office, and if it wasn't done that day, they wouldn't be able to start the process until Wednesday, which meant I wouldn't get to the wedding. They actually did the visa in less that 24 hours, which was impressive, and today I am the proud owner of a hard earned, expensive visa.
We are going to Sao Paulo, and details of the itinerary are not yet revealed, as Cleia is planning the week. All I know is that there's a wedding Saturday, and who doesn't like a wedding party, and then we will be 'taken care of' for the rest of the time there! BTW, it's winter now, 12-15 Celsius, so the beaches aren't likely to be packed...
So, expect a post from Brazil some time, but for now, that's the full report.
My friend Jordan (some may know), was in Rwanda with Nu-Vision Ministries
and met a Brazilian, Cleia. Cleia invited Jordan to visit her, and Jordan thought I would like to go as well. Of course, I will go anywhere, and a guided tour of a South American country (I've never been to South America) is hard to pass up.It turns out, Cleia's brother is getting married next weekend, exactly when I finished my contract with FH Mozambique, and both Jordan and I are invited!
Unfortunately, after buying a ticket, and going to Maputo to visit the Brazilian Embassy, I was told that I couldn't get a visa in Maputo, only in Toronto. Devasted, I resigned myself to a holiday in Caia (not!) and went back to work. When I was sent to Maputo again, right at the end of my contract time, I decided to call the Brazilian embassy in South Africa, whose staff told me they would get me a visa in 48 hours! So, now I'm in South Africa, just to get a visa to Brazil. I arrived on their last day before moving office, and if it wasn't done that day, they wouldn't be able to start the process until Wednesday, which meant I wouldn't get to the wedding. They actually did the visa in less that 24 hours, which was impressive, and today I am the proud owner of a hard earned, expensive visa.
We are going to Sao Paulo, and details of the itinerary are not yet revealed, as Cleia is planning the week. All I know is that there's a wedding Saturday, and who doesn't like a wedding party, and then we will be 'taken care of' for the rest of the time there! BTW, it's winter now, 12-15 Celsius, so the beaches aren't likely to be packed...
So, expect a post from Brazil some time, but for now, that's the full report.
Late again
So, it's been another week plus, but I have excuses!!!I have been in as many citiies as days this last week, and gave up my laptop on the weekend, so it's harder to post.
In summary:
I was in Maputo for a ridiculously long time at the beginning of the month, and finally got back to Caia on Monday the 7th. Then, on Wedensday I was told I was needed in Maputo again, so on Thursday I left at 5, drove to Beira, hopped a plane, and was back in Maputo for dinner. Friday I looked at car with Armindo, the logistics manager, and Saturday we bought two for the price of one (and pulled a sports model to boot). I got a break Sunday, and then took the overnight bus to Pretoria, South Africa, arriving at 4:30 when nothing is open, except a crazy restaurant where the staff were sleeping in the booths, and they made me some hot chocolate...had a McDonald's breakfast yippeeee...and then walked about 6 km. to the Brazilian embassy to get a visa. Finally checked into my hotel at 12 and crashed. Today I got the visa in the morning YES!!!!, and then have spent the afternoon at an incredible shopping mall. Unfortunately, no idea what to do tomorrow, except maybe see a doctor about a pain in my foot.
That's the summary, more details in posts to follow.
In summary:
I was in Maputo for a ridiculously long time at the beginning of the month, and finally got back to Caia on Monday the 7th. Then, on Wedensday I was told I was needed in Maputo again, so on Thursday I left at 5, drove to Beira, hopped a plane, and was back in Maputo for dinner. Friday I looked at car with Armindo, the logistics manager, and Saturday we bought two for the price of one (and pulled a sports model to boot). I got a break Sunday, and then took the overnight bus to Pretoria, South Africa, arriving at 4:30 when nothing is open, except a crazy restaurant where the staff were sleeping in the booths, and they made me some hot chocolate...had a McDonald's breakfast yippeeee...and then walked about 6 km. to the Brazilian embassy to get a visa. Finally checked into my hotel at 12 and crashed. Today I got the visa in the morning YES!!!!, and then have spent the afternoon at an incredible shopping mall. Unfortunately, no idea what to do tomorrow, except maybe see a doctor about a pain in my foot.
That's the summary, more details in posts to follow.
Monday, May 07, 2007
My World
An update is definitely overdue, but it's been an odd week, and I'm not in the mood today. So, on the light side, my Facebook friends linked me to world66.com, a fascinating little Creative Commons website, which provided the following information about me...
get your own travel profile
It got me bang on, although Amsterdam is the last place I plan on going, precisely because I am a travel yup at ehart, but not in my wallet.
Also interesting, a view of my world in red...my personal rule is you have to leave the airport to have visited.
create your own visited country map
 | |||
Your travel type: Travel Yup  The Travel Yup likes exotic and adventurous travel, but prefers big cities with fast paced life. He has a keen interest in other cultures and always brings home a few souvenirs. Shopping in Bangkok, getting a tailor made suite in Kuala Lumpur, that's the kind of thing the Travel Yup is into. Even though he likes to get away, he prefers his travels to be comfortable. |  | ||
top destinations:AmsterdamNew York Venice | stay away from:KashmirNorth Korea Darien Gap | ||
It got me bang on, although Amsterdam is the last place I plan on going, precisely because I am a travel yup at ehart, but not in my wallet.
Also interesting, a view of my world in red...my personal rule is you have to leave the airport to have visited.
create your own visited country map
Saturday, April 28, 2007
I think I've survived today...
This one is in blast facts again, because that's how the day went...
One car left at 5 to pick up nutrition staff from their houses. I got up and continued the finance work from yesterday while waiting for the kettle.
Finally had a late breakfast at 7:30, because the office isn't open today. Thanks to the Danish Red Cross kitchen, for the gift of shrimp cream cheese for my bread!!! How do you say 'God is good' in Danish? The second car left on another program, gone until night.
At 8, went to send the financial statements by email while car 1, the Land Rover, drove the nutrition team to their day's destination. I was still working on emails when the car returned to pick me up, and I drove to see the team from last night. We couldn't find them. They weren't at the camp where they were supposed to be digging wells.
30 minutes later, we found them - appraently the village split in two when relocating from the flood, and the UN registered camp is under the assistant mayor. my team of course went to the mayor, who showed them where he wanted the well. They had already started working, and the truck was no longer available. So, we packed up everyone except a guard, and took them back down the road to the right spot, where we outlined our plan for Monday. Then, we went to another location that just needed some repairs to their well, to see if we could get something accomplished there. There was no sand or bricks available in that village, so we couldn't do the repairs, and I had forgotten an adaptor for the sump pump, so we couldn't clean the well. Meamwhile, the nutrition tem was done, and needed picking up.
Now, I had a car full of construction workers and tools that were supposed to be digging wells, materials in a place that didn't need them, three wells that were not started, and only two days left to complete the wells, with one of them being Sunday, when no one works. We drove right past the nutrition team (one of whom is quite pregnant), so we could unload all the equipment from the Land Rover, and then we had to send the car back to get the nutrition team. I got to the house at 2 and sat down for lunch. The nutrition team arrived shortly after, but we couldn't take them home, because the driver of car 1 had been driving since 5, with only a bun for breakfast. So, we squeezed our lunch to cover all the nutrition team.
I had the first pre-season soccer match for my new club, Sporting Club of Caia, at 3. After getting prepped and trudging to the field, I found out the match was postponed until tomorrow, because we're playing the nearby bridge construction crew, and they work full days on Saturday. With the necessity of getting to Maputo tomorrow night, I need to do a handover to our team leader in Caia tomorrow morning at 6, because he'll just be back tonight, and I need to leave by 9 to get to Beira in time for collecting all the financial data, being briefed and getting to the airport.
I forgot to mention that, in the middle of yesterday I was called by Samaritan's Purse Mozambique and offered a position for up to two years. However, today I received an offer to extend from FHI, so I will remain with them for the next two months, after a much-needed break in Sao Paulo...20 more days!!!
Now, after posting some blogs, checking my email, and exhaling, I think I'm done for the day. There's a farewell party for Julie tonight, and some others from other orgs, but I'm not in charge!
One car left at 5 to pick up nutrition staff from their houses. I got up and continued the finance work from yesterday while waiting for the kettle.
Finally had a late breakfast at 7:30, because the office isn't open today. Thanks to the Danish Red Cross kitchen, for the gift of shrimp cream cheese for my bread!!! How do you say 'God is good' in Danish? The second car left on another program, gone until night.
At 8, went to send the financial statements by email while car 1, the Land Rover, drove the nutrition team to their day's destination. I was still working on emails when the car returned to pick me up, and I drove to see the team from last night. We couldn't find them. They weren't at the camp where they were supposed to be digging wells.
30 minutes later, we found them - appraently the village split in two when relocating from the flood, and the UN registered camp is under the assistant mayor. my team of course went to the mayor, who showed them where he wanted the well. They had already started working, and the truck was no longer available. So, we packed up everyone except a guard, and took them back down the road to the right spot, where we outlined our plan for Monday. Then, we went to another location that just needed some repairs to their well, to see if we could get something accomplished there. There was no sand or bricks available in that village, so we couldn't do the repairs, and I had forgotten an adaptor for the sump pump, so we couldn't clean the well. Meamwhile, the nutrition tem was done, and needed picking up.
Now, I had a car full of construction workers and tools that were supposed to be digging wells, materials in a place that didn't need them, three wells that were not started, and only two days left to complete the wells, with one of them being Sunday, when no one works. We drove right past the nutrition team (one of whom is quite pregnant), so we could unload all the equipment from the Land Rover, and then we had to send the car back to get the nutrition team. I got to the house at 2 and sat down for lunch. The nutrition team arrived shortly after, but we couldn't take them home, because the driver of car 1 had been driving since 5, with only a bun for breakfast. So, we squeezed our lunch to cover all the nutrition team.
I had the first pre-season soccer match for my new club, Sporting Club of Caia, at 3. After getting prepped and trudging to the field, I found out the match was postponed until tomorrow, because we're playing the nearby bridge construction crew, and they work full days on Saturday. With the necessity of getting to Maputo tomorrow night, I need to do a handover to our team leader in Caia tomorrow morning at 6, because he'll just be back tonight, and I need to leave by 9 to get to Beira in time for collecting all the financial data, being briefed and getting to the airport.
I forgot to mention that, in the middle of yesterday I was called by Samaritan's Purse Mozambique and offered a position for up to two years. However, today I received an offer to extend from FHI, so I will remain with them for the next two months, after a much-needed break in Sao Paulo...20 more days!!!
Now, after posting some blogs, checking my email, and exhaling, I think I'm done for the day. There's a farewell party for Julie tonight, and some others from other orgs, but I'm not in charge!
Another African Adventure
First, I must mention a few things. I totally got sucked into Facebook this month. I won't defend myself, except to say that almost every technogeek I know (the ones who are afraid of Skype, and loathe myspace, etc) is on there. I won't promote either, beyond saying that it is the easiest way to reach me and see pictures of me.
Second, if you haven't seen it yet, check out my sister's blog, there's a link to the left.
Okay, so I'm conducting my blog in a more event oriented style, now, rather than being so time focused. After all, when in Africa...
Yesterday topped all other days in Mozambique to date. It started, however, the day before. I am finishing off a well digging project for our water engineer, who's contract ended. The project was supposed to end next Monday, with four wells. For many reasons, this wasn't happening. In a meeting with all water-related agencies on Thursday, it was unanimously decided that FHI would adjust our schedule to relocate, dig three wells in three days, and then look at returning to the original locations.
So, yesterday started with me skipping breakfast to be first in line to request a truck from WFP to move our materials, equipment, etc. to the new locations. (If you don't know any of the acronyms in this story, sorry, but it's faster than typing, so email me later for definitons, or Wikipedia them). WFP got me a truck by 8, I went to the office to get a car and go to my sites, and there were no cars available, partly because it was pay day. Then, Oxfam asked if they could travel with me to look at the new sites, and I bartered for their car. Then, we went to my well team and told them to pack their bags, they were moving to a new site, take a tent, and get ready because the truck is coming. From there, I left with oxfam to look at the new proposed sites, and talk with community leaders, etc. We were gone until noon, out of mobile signal. When we returned, I discovered that the truck hadn't left, because they filled it in a sandy area, and it got stuck, so they unloaded it (3 tons of sand, 3 tons of gravel, a ton of cement, and equipment, and dug out the truck. By this time, the truck driver decided it was time for him to go for lunch.
I finally got to eat at 2, and then went back our with Oxfam to check another site. By 4 I heard that the truck had left, and I checked my email for the first time, as well as calling into the Beira office. I discovered that I was required to submit a final report and financial statement for the well project to the donor next Monday, as that was the last day of the project. So, that meant the weekend to process all outstanding transactions (this would likely have required at least two weeks normally). It meant that I would need to be in Maputo on Monday morning, and you can't get there from here. UN chartered flights ended this week, so the only way was to drive 6 hours to Beira, then fly to Maputo.
I went back home to drink a cup of tea at 6, and started to coordinate all financial items from this end. Just before 7, I got a visit from a Swedish man whom I had met, but who had recently been speaking to my colleague Julie. He did not realize that we were a Christian organization, and he was looking for other Christians to talk to. He's a police intelligence officer, who volunteers with a Swedish agency to do tech stuff, and gets attached to the UN. So, we visited for two hours in candlelight, becaue the power, which is supposed to be on from 6 to 10, went off jsut after 7. After he left, we had some new and unexpected staff arrivals at our house, who needed rooms and linens and candles. Finally, I got to eat some cold spaghetti with goat meat and collapse into bed around 10. As I said, the hardest day in Mozambique, and then there was today....
Second, if you haven't seen it yet, check out my sister's blog, there's a link to the left.
Okay, so I'm conducting my blog in a more event oriented style, now, rather than being so time focused. After all, when in Africa...
Yesterday topped all other days in Mozambique to date. It started, however, the day before. I am finishing off a well digging project for our water engineer, who's contract ended. The project was supposed to end next Monday, with four wells. For many reasons, this wasn't happening. In a meeting with all water-related agencies on Thursday, it was unanimously decided that FHI would adjust our schedule to relocate, dig three wells in three days, and then look at returning to the original locations.
So, yesterday started with me skipping breakfast to be first in line to request a truck from WFP to move our materials, equipment, etc. to the new locations. (If you don't know any of the acronyms in this story, sorry, but it's faster than typing, so email me later for definitons, or Wikipedia them). WFP got me a truck by 8, I went to the office to get a car and go to my sites, and there were no cars available, partly because it was pay day. Then, Oxfam asked if they could travel with me to look at the new sites, and I bartered for their car. Then, we went to my well team and told them to pack their bags, they were moving to a new site, take a tent, and get ready because the truck is coming. From there, I left with oxfam to look at the new proposed sites, and talk with community leaders, etc. We were gone until noon, out of mobile signal. When we returned, I discovered that the truck hadn't left, because they filled it in a sandy area, and it got stuck, so they unloaded it (3 tons of sand, 3 tons of gravel, a ton of cement, and equipment, and dug out the truck. By this time, the truck driver decided it was time for him to go for lunch.
I finally got to eat at 2, and then went back our with Oxfam to check another site. By 4 I heard that the truck had left, and I checked my email for the first time, as well as calling into the Beira office. I discovered that I was required to submit a final report and financial statement for the well project to the donor next Monday, as that was the last day of the project. So, that meant the weekend to process all outstanding transactions (this would likely have required at least two weeks normally). It meant that I would need to be in Maputo on Monday morning, and you can't get there from here. UN chartered flights ended this week, so the only way was to drive 6 hours to Beira, then fly to Maputo.
I went back home to drink a cup of tea at 6, and started to coordinate all financial items from this end. Just before 7, I got a visit from a Swedish man whom I had met, but who had recently been speaking to my colleague Julie. He did not realize that we were a Christian organization, and he was looking for other Christians to talk to. He's a police intelligence officer, who volunteers with a Swedish agency to do tech stuff, and gets attached to the UN. So, we visited for two hours in candlelight, becaue the power, which is supposed to be on from 6 to 10, went off jsut after 7. After he left, we had some new and unexpected staff arrivals at our house, who needed rooms and linens and candles. Finally, I got to eat some cold spaghetti with goat meat and collapse into bed around 10. As I said, the hardest day in Mozambique, and then there was today....
Random African Adventures...
Somewhere between my last post and today, eleven days disappeared. Let me try to recover them for anyone (including myself) who may be remotely interested....
After Easter, things started slowing down and streamlining, and the weather cooled, with night time lows of 22. I caught a cold, and allergies flared up, and I suffered daily asthma attacks. Thanks to Prime Care Pharmacy for supplying me with uppers, downers and anti-inflammatories to withstand this predicament, and to The Martin Clinic for neutraceuticals to make sure the drugs didn't kill me! Now, the rain is gone, the cold and asthma are clearing, and the temperatures are soaring back up into the high 30s.
I went to Beira one day, flew down in the morning and stayed in the FHI guesthouse until the next morning. The purpose of this visit was to chat with the FHI country director about my future here, so we did lunch. Our really late lunch was interrupted by the realization that we both needed to meet with people in the office before they left at 3.30, so we hurried back, and I scurried through brief 'hello, can I get/give something, goodbye' meetings until 6, then off to shop for much needed staff encouragements to take back to Caia (Nutella, PB, chocolate, curry powder). I got to the guesthouse at 7, and arrangements had been made for me to eat out, rather than there, because I had planned to meet several people from other agencies in Beira, just to get better acquainted (mixing business with pleasure). Unfortunately, none of them where available for dinner, but one group would meet me at the restaurant after, if it was the one close to them. So, my 5 minute walk to a great restaurant became a 30 minute (dark, urban) walk to a goodish restaurant, where I ate alone and watched cricket. Then, the group all cancelled except for one woman, who showed up and we chatted for awhile. In the meantine, I got a text from another acquaintance to say her dinner with her boss was done, and could I meet her and another colleague at that restaurant for coffee. So, I spent as much time as possible with the first woman, than took a hasty taxi to the other restaurant where the other two where waiting for me. Needless to say, it was 11:30 by the time I got back to the FHI guesthouse, and it was all locked up. Not worried, I rapped on the gate and called for the guard. The dogs (one a massive, drooling, snarling Doberman) woke up, but not the guard. I continued rapping on the gate, standing on a poorly lit street in a lowish end part of the cityfor some time. Around 1 it started to rain. The rain stopped before 2, and the fisherman were on their way out to sea at 2:30.
By then I had determined that the Doby was chained, the other dog was stupid, and the wall wasn't too high, so I jumped it, and ran arund to the back of the guesthouse to wake the staff, and get let in. I woke to my alarm at 6.30, in great pain, but I had to get my ride at 7.00 to get to the airport. Fortunately, the guesthouse had an incredible hot shower, and by 7 I was good to go, breakfasted (real cheese!!! and an apple), and ready to go (sans coffee).
The next adventure will be in the next post, because this one is too long already.
After Easter, things started slowing down and streamlining, and the weather cooled, with night time lows of 22. I caught a cold, and allergies flared up, and I suffered daily asthma attacks. Thanks to Prime Care Pharmacy for supplying me with uppers, downers and anti-inflammatories to withstand this predicament, and to The Martin Clinic for neutraceuticals to make sure the drugs didn't kill me! Now, the rain is gone, the cold and asthma are clearing, and the temperatures are soaring back up into the high 30s.
I went to Beira one day, flew down in the morning and stayed in the FHI guesthouse until the next morning. The purpose of this visit was to chat with the FHI country director about my future here, so we did lunch. Our really late lunch was interrupted by the realization that we both needed to meet with people in the office before they left at 3.30, so we hurried back, and I scurried through brief 'hello, can I get/give something, goodbye' meetings until 6, then off to shop for much needed staff encouragements to take back to Caia (Nutella, PB, chocolate, curry powder). I got to the guesthouse at 7, and arrangements had been made for me to eat out, rather than there, because I had planned to meet several people from other agencies in Beira, just to get better acquainted (mixing business with pleasure). Unfortunately, none of them where available for dinner, but one group would meet me at the restaurant after, if it was the one close to them. So, my 5 minute walk to a great restaurant became a 30 minute (dark, urban) walk to a goodish restaurant, where I ate alone and watched cricket. Then, the group all cancelled except for one woman, who showed up and we chatted for awhile. In the meantine, I got a text from another acquaintance to say her dinner with her boss was done, and could I meet her and another colleague at that restaurant for coffee. So, I spent as much time as possible with the first woman, than took a hasty taxi to the other restaurant where the other two where waiting for me. Needless to say, it was 11:30 by the time I got back to the FHI guesthouse, and it was all locked up. Not worried, I rapped on the gate and called for the guard. The dogs (one a massive, drooling, snarling Doberman) woke up, but not the guard. I continued rapping on the gate, standing on a poorly lit street in a lowish end part of the cityfor some time. Around 1 it started to rain. The rain stopped before 2, and the fisherman were on their way out to sea at 2:30.
By then I had determined that the Doby was chained, the other dog was stupid, and the wall wasn't too high, so I jumped it, and ran arund to the back of the guesthouse to wake the staff, and get let in. I woke to my alarm at 6.30, in great pain, but I had to get my ride at 7.00 to get to the airport. Fortunately, the guesthouse had an incredible hot shower, and by 7 I was good to go, breakfasted (real cheese!!! and an apple), and ready to go (sans coffee).
The next adventure will be in the next post, because this one is too long already.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
New Posts
A quick update - I have posted to Chris's Questions, my other blog. See the link on the sidebar to read these posts.
In other news, I am working to join my good friend JLP, also known as Jordo, on a one week trip next month to the beauty-full beaches of Ipanima, and other hot spots 'no bonita Brasil'. At the end of my contract I plan to take a direct flight from Johannesburg to Sao Paulo, before returning to Canada. It better be summer by the time I get back!
Further, I just got a 'Caia Cut' today from the local barber. This is the standard cut, using an electric clippers, no guard, entire head and face all the same length. It takes 10 minutes, and costs 10 Meticais, and I need it every 10 days. The only problem is, unlike the Caia citizens, I can only flaunt it for 10 minutes a day, without burning my head!
Speaking of burns, my sunburn from Easter weekend, a consequence of an hour and a half at the pool, became the most severe burn I've ever had. After the front of my legs blistered from my knees to my ankles, I noticed underlying tissue damage, and I've been applying antibiotic cream to preven scars all down my legs.
That's all the excitement, except that on Sunday I braved the crocs and survived swimming in the Zambezi with a few other relief workers.
All the news, pictures later!!!
In other news, I am working to join my good friend JLP, also known as Jordo, on a one week trip next month to the beauty-full beaches of Ipanima, and other hot spots 'no bonita Brasil'. At the end of my contract I plan to take a direct flight from Johannesburg to Sao Paulo, before returning to Canada. It better be summer by the time I get back!
Further, I just got a 'Caia Cut' today from the local barber. This is the standard cut, using an electric clippers, no guard, entire head and face all the same length. It takes 10 minutes, and costs 10 Meticais, and I need it every 10 days. The only problem is, unlike the Caia citizens, I can only flaunt it for 10 minutes a day, without burning my head!
Speaking of burns, my sunburn from Easter weekend, a consequence of an hour and a half at the pool, became the most severe burn I've ever had. After the front of my legs blistered from my knees to my ankles, I noticed underlying tissue damage, and I've been applying antibiotic cream to preven scars all down my legs.
That's all the excitement, except that on Sunday I braved the crocs and survived swimming in the Zambezi with a few other relief workers.
All the news, pictures later!!!
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Blessed Easter Greetings
Exciting news, I have managed to squeeze myself onto today's United Nations flight out of town, along with both managers, so we will make it to Beira tonight, and meet with the other FHI managers. I beleive there is a plan for some R&R this weekend, a nice seafood dinner, and some sleep. Sunday morning a sunrise service on the beach. BTW, sunrise is 05:25 here...
So, I may not have access to post on Sunday. This week we ran out of credit on our satellite, and for reasons I can't explain, I have internet access but can not reply to emails that I downloaded already. So, if in the last 48 hours you deserved a reply, please do not despair, I should be back on Monday.
In other news this week, FHI Caia will be entering a soccer team in the local championship, news and scorelines to follow.
The town is changing as emergency agencies wind up and pull out. There is still a large need here, as people have no seeds to replant their drowned fields, and no materials to repair or rebuild houses. Also, the government has not set up a resettlement process yet, for people to get new land, not in the floodplain.
May God bless you all this weekend, as you reflect on new beginnings, new opportunities and new life.
So, I may not have access to post on Sunday. This week we ran out of credit on our satellite, and for reasons I can't explain, I have internet access but can not reply to emails that I downloaded already. So, if in the last 48 hours you deserved a reply, please do not despair, I should be back on Monday.
In other news this week, FHI Caia will be entering a soccer team in the local championship, news and scorelines to follow.
The town is changing as emergency agencies wind up and pull out. There is still a large need here, as people have no seeds to replant their drowned fields, and no materials to repair or rebuild houses. Also, the government has not set up a resettlement process yet, for people to get new land, not in the floodplain.
May God bless you all this weekend, as you reflect on new beginnings, new opportunities and new life.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Sunshine and Rain
That’s right, it’s been a bit of both this week, but certainly more sunshine than rain, and more joy than pain. As a matter of fact, it’s rained twice, both between 5 and 7 in the morning, before the sun was strong enough to dry up the clouds and clear the air. Other than those few hours, it’s been more of the same baking. It’s an odd feeling, sitting in an air conditioned room and not cooling off, so that you feel as if you’re cooking from the inside out!
The highs this week have included successful negotiations to extend funding, increase funding, and provide more sustainable solutions for water supply. On the low side, logistics has reared its ugly head, and I’ve had to work with our team to coordinate vehicles, order supplies, and other things that have just taken longer than expected. Also this week, the government decided to stop turning on the generator, so we don’t even get power from 6-10, as previously took place. This means no showers, no lights, and no charging cell phones, computers etc., which frustrates the working process. It definitely means no cold drinks, ever.
This week has also been an exciting food adventure week. Yesterday we had a cold sardine, boiled egg and raw onion salad for breakfast, with leftover sardines in fried spaghetti noodles for lunch. This morning breakfast was canned luncheon meat (SPAM), warm canned carrots, and raw onions with bread. These have been a welcome change from chicken and rice, but not the breakfast of champions. My thanks to the Hyde family Christmas gift exchange, which supplied a lifesaving pound of Starbucks coffee for our little team.
Here’s some pictures of this week:
Kids who have been displaced by the floods.
The beautiful game...
"stamping" in to receive food
The receding river has left big swamps in farmers' fields
Sunday, March 25, 2007
One week in Mozambique
Yes, it has indeed been one week already, and what a week it has been. So much has been accomplished this week, I am not sure I will be able to make it to the end of two months! I can share with you now why I am really here, because I think I am beginning to know myself...
FHI implemented three relief programs in Caia District.The first, under the direction of a Mozambique staff member, is the coordinated distribution of foord provided by the World Food program, for people who have been relocated. This has gone exceptionally well, and is wrapping up next week.
The second, run by a Kenyan water technician, is the provision of water and latrines for people who have been relocated. This project has provided more than 80 latrines, done hygiene and sanitation education in resettlement areas, and will start digging new wells next week. We have succeeded in extending this program for another month.
The third program, run by an FHI American staffer who usually works in Bolivia, is a nutritional surveillance program which checks children for malnutrition. This program is exciting because the local staff trained to do this are already working in local communities, and will be able to continue with this training long after the emergency has passed.
After days of meetings, working out deals, firming up negotiations, I spent Saturday visiting our project sites.
This involved over 8 hours of driving through the day, but was well worth it to get a visual connection with the work.
That's it for this week, except for two more things - on Friday I was able to share a pleasant reunion with my old friend and co-worker from Vietnam, Scott Barton. Scott was sent with the Samaritan's Purse water response team and had no idea I was here, although I had heard he was here. We only had time for a quick hello, shared a Coke, and said farewell, as he was on his way out of the country. It was definitely a good time of reminiscing, while others watched with curiosity. It's no
t often you meet an old friend in rural Mozambique...
The second thing was my church visit this morning. As I had mentioned earlier, there are very few Christians in Mozambique, and this is evidenced in Caia. Most business is as usual here, but we visited a small church where one of our colleagues with FHI is the lay pastor, and had a great time listening to an exciting (and relatively short) sermon, with all the foot-stomping, amen-calling and arm-waving necessary to ensure engagement of the audience.
That's really it for now, and with current internet status, I will be down to one post per week from now on, hopefully on Sundays, but personal emails ARE BEING RESPONDED TO on a daily basis.
FHI implemented three relief programs in Caia District.The first, under the direction of a Mozambique staff member, is the coordinated distribution of foord provided by the World Food program, for people who have been relocated. This has gone exceptionally well, and is wrapping up next week.
The second, run by a Kenyan water technician, is the provision of water and latrines for people who have been relocated. This project has provided more than 80 latrines, done hygiene and sanitation education in resettlement areas, and will start digging new wells next week. We have succeeded in extending this program for another month.
The third program, run by an FHI American staffer who usually works in Bolivia, is a nutritional surveillance program which checks children for malnutrition. This program is exciting because the local staff trained to do this are already working in local communities, and will be able to continue with this training long after the emergency has passed.
After days of meetings, working out deals, firming up negotiations, I spent Saturday visiting our project sites.
This involved over 8 hours of driving through the day, but was well worth it to get a visual connection with the work.
That's it for this week, except for two more things - on Friday I was able to share a pleasant reunion with my old friend and co-worker from Vietnam, Scott Barton. Scott was sent with the Samaritan's Purse water response team and had no idea I was here, although I had heard he was here. We only had time for a quick hello, shared a Coke, and said farewell, as he was on his way out of the country. It was definitely a good time of reminiscing, while others watched with curiosity. It's no
t often you meet an old friend in rural Mozambique...The second thing was my church visit this morning. As I had mentioned earlier, there are very few Christians in Mozambique, and this is evidenced in Caia. Most business is as usual here, but we visited a small church where one of our colleagues with FHI is the lay pastor, and had a great time listening to an exciting (and relatively short) sermon, with all the foot-stomping, amen-calling and arm-waving necessary to ensure engagement of the audience.
That's really it for now, and with current internet status, I will be down to one post per week from now on, hopefully on Sundays, but personal emails ARE BEING RESPONDED TO on a daily basis.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Caia Calor
Well, for all those of you thinking I'm in a tropical beach resort, justice is now served. I arrived in Caia on Tuesday afternoon, travelling 6 hours north from Beira in a Land Rover Defender, with temperatures in the cab reaching 38 degrees. No shade, and my bag (with sunblock) on the roof, meant a nice burn on my left arm and left side of my face.
Yesterday was my first full day in Caia, and it looks like it will be typical for the next few weeks, so here's my itinerary with Centigrade temps in brackets:
5:30 Alarm goes off, climb out of the mosquito net and have a bucket bath (5 liters if I'm lucky), get dressed in yesterdays clothes and have devotions while the sun comes up(32)
6:30 Brew coffee for the management team (I brought 2 lbs, so we'll see how long that lasts) and share fried egg on a bun breakfast (34)
7:00 Get to office for a quick meeting with our team leader, who is the local staff in charge of all development projects for this district. We touch base each day to clear any relief vs. development issues, and work to streamline.
7:30 Devotions (38)
8:00 Start meetings, which include meeting with donor organizations, other organizations that do similar programs, my staff to coordinate logistics and trouble shoot,meetings with all agencies and the government, the national disaster management team, and with logistic support teams.
12:00 Lunch - Chicken and rice (40)
1:00 Continue meetings, write reports, hike to WFP office for internet access (42)
7:00 Back to the house for another splash bath, change into shorts. The power came on at 6, and will last until 10 (37)
8:00 Eat dinner, ordered at 7, goat and french fries (34)
10:00 Government shuts off the power, and I go to sleep (34)
Today I visited one of our projects, supplying water and latrines to a resettled area, so may be able to provide pictures this afternoon, if all goes well.
That's all for now.
PS Calor is Portugese for hot
Yesterday was my first full day in Caia, and it looks like it will be typical for the next few weeks, so here's my itinerary with Centigrade temps in brackets:
5:30 Alarm goes off, climb out of the mosquito net and have a bucket bath (5 liters if I'm lucky), get dressed in yesterdays clothes and have devotions while the sun comes up(32)
6:30 Brew coffee for the management team (I brought 2 lbs, so we'll see how long that lasts) and share fried egg on a bun breakfast (34)
7:00 Get to office for a quick meeting with our team leader, who is the local staff in charge of all development projects for this district. We touch base each day to clear any relief vs. development issues, and work to streamline.
7:30 Devotions (38)
8:00 Start meetings, which include meeting with donor organizations, other organizations that do similar programs, my staff to coordinate logistics and trouble shoot,meetings with all agencies and the government, the national disaster management team, and with logistic support teams.
12:00 Lunch - Chicken and rice (40)
1:00 Continue meetings, write reports, hike to WFP office for internet access (42)
7:00 Back to the house for another splash bath, change into shorts. The power came on at 6, and will last until 10 (37)
8:00 Eat dinner, ordered at 7, goat and french fries (34)
10:00 Government shuts off the power, and I go to sleep (34)
Today I visited one of our projects, supplying water and latrines to a resettled area, so may be able to provide pictures this afternoon, if all goes well.
That's all for now.
PS Calor is Portugese for hot
Monday, March 19, 2007
Arrived!!!
Well, I arrived safely in Beira ysterday afternoon, and had no problems with customs or immigration. No thefts from the notorious Johannesburg baggage handlers either (that is if I left my sunglasses at home, as they didn't make it here...) Anyways, i was met at the airport by my new boss, a Rwandan named Onis. He took me to his place for a much needed shower, and then a drive around the town, a walk on the beach, and a supper of fresh seafood as we watched the sunset over the Indian Ocean.
Okay, so that sounds a bit idyllic, especially for those suffering the latest cold front moving throught the Northeast US and Eastern Canada, but I just spent 50 hours in transit!!!
After waking every three hours, adjusting to jet lag all night, I got up at 5:00 to run with Onis, but saw a torrential downpour outside and was reminded of why I'm here. We cancelled the run, and I went back to sleep. On the way to the office, the water was standing on the road 4 inches deep, after only about 4 hours of rain. We went to a cafe for breakfast, where they served a decent espresso and cafe au lait, and we had toasted chicken sandwiches. Definitely not Asia anymore!
Today was sepnt in orientation, which included being issued with a mobile phone, a laptop, and a flash disk full of policies, budgets, project contracts, etc. In the afternoon i took my driving test, and am an approved driver (despite three near collisions.)
All in all, a full day, jet lag is hitting me, and I have dinner tonight with the country director. Tomorrow I'm off to Caia at 8, where I will be based for the majority of my time here, managing the relief projects in the Zambezi river valley. There may not be internet acces for a while, but when I can, I'll be back!
Okay, so that sounds a bit idyllic, especially for those suffering the latest cold front moving throught the Northeast US and Eastern Canada, but I just spent 50 hours in transit!!!
After waking every three hours, adjusting to jet lag all night, I got up at 5:00 to run with Onis, but saw a torrential downpour outside and was reminded of why I'm here. We cancelled the run, and I went back to sleep. On the way to the office, the water was standing on the road 4 inches deep, after only about 4 hours of rain. We went to a cafe for breakfast, where they served a decent espresso and cafe au lait, and we had toasted chicken sandwiches. Definitely not Asia anymore!
Today was sepnt in orientation, which included being issued with a mobile phone, a laptop, and a flash disk full of policies, budgets, project contracts, etc. In the afternoon i took my driving test, and am an approved driver (despite three near collisions.)
All in all, a full day, jet lag is hitting me, and I have dinner tonight with the country director. Tomorrow I'm off to Caia at 8, where I will be based for the majority of my time here, managing the relief projects in the Zambezi river valley. There may not be internet acces for a while, but when I can, I'll be back!
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Lost in Transit?
Well, I'm half-way through the transfer to Mozambique. A delay leaving Toronto was countered by an accelerated flight to London. A brief stop in London with FH/UK for lunch has been a much needed break from airports!
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Mozambique Situation Report
For a complete and current situation report on the cyclone/flooding emergencies in Mozambique, check out this UNICEF report.
For a press release from FHI about emergency response to the Zambezi flooding in Mozambique, click here. I have been asked to join the Relief Unit working in the Caia district to meet the needs of people displaced by the floods.
Meanwhile, in the southern Inhambane province, Cyclone Favio (a cyclone is similar to a hurricane) has ravaged the city of Vilankulos and left many in need.
This PDF map from the International Federation of the Red Cross/Red Crescent shows both areas in detail. If you can not see the map, click here to download Adobe Reader.
That's all I know for now, more when I get there! CS
Changing Over
Well, after much delay, I'm posting to the blog again. This is because a serious of events have unfolded, providing a measure of certainty to my life (although not all would agree ;0)
As follows:
1. No job for two months lead to frantic concern, followed by a new resolution.
2. The new resolution was to return to school if nothing came up, enrolling in a paramedic program.
3. The paramedic program starts April 30, at which point I take no further offers for employment.
4. I have four positive interactions, to discuss Africa, Asia, Ottawa and "somewhere" as possibilities, but nothing concrete.
5. I start the enrollment process for college.
6. I am contacted, confirmed and offered a position in 24 hours, effective immediately.
So, tomorrow I leave for Mozambique, on a 60 day contract with Food for the Hungry International (FHI), as a Relief Program Manager. The certainty comes from the fact that regards of the length of time in this or any further contract, I am looking forward to the opportunity, if unemployed again, to train as a paramedic.
The last few days have been a flurry of farewells, and last minute preparations. My apologies to those dear friends and relations with whom I have been unable to connect this week. My appreciation to all those who have assisted in the preparations, and have committed to support me with prayer and encouragement.
I am more prepared now, to make less future promises of postings, and just deliver with what's available. Please don't be afraid to remind me of any delinquencies. BTW, emailing me is more effective than posting a comment, if you want a personal response. It's actually difficult to reply to a comment, unless you log in, or I already have your address!!
Off to reserve my seats,
Chris
As follows:
1. No job for two months lead to frantic concern, followed by a new resolution.
2. The new resolution was to return to school if nothing came up, enrolling in a paramedic program.
3. The paramedic program starts April 30, at which point I take no further offers for employment.
4. I have four positive interactions, to discuss Africa, Asia, Ottawa and "somewhere" as possibilities, but nothing concrete.
5. I start the enrollment process for college.
6. I am contacted, confirmed and offered a position in 24 hours, effective immediately.
So, tomorrow I leave for Mozambique, on a 60 day contract with Food for the Hungry International (FHI), as a Relief Program Manager. The certainty comes from the fact that regards of the length of time in this or any further contract, I am looking forward to the opportunity, if unemployed again, to train as a paramedic.
The last few days have been a flurry of farewells, and last minute preparations. My apologies to those dear friends and relations with whom I have been unable to connect this week. My appreciation to all those who have assisted in the preparations, and have committed to support me with prayer and encouragement.
I am more prepared now, to make less future promises of postings, and just deliver with what's available. Please don't be afraid to remind me of any delinquencies. BTW, emailing me is more effective than posting a comment, if you want a personal response. It's actually difficult to reply to a comment, unless you log in, or I already have your address!!
Off to reserve my seats,
Chris
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